YellowStone National Park

By: Ethan Ehrlich, Drew Tudor, And Devon Nwosu

Geological Origins

• It is believed that a hotspot in the upper mantle is responsible for the parks origins

• The movement of the North American Plate over a hotspot

• This formed the YellowStone Caldera, which is considered to be the largest super volcano in North America

Yellowstone Caldera

Diagram depicting the Yellowstone Caldera

Natural History

• Yellowstone is found in the Taiga biome

• The climate ranges between 0-80 degrees throughout the four seasons

• Average rain is about 15.4 inches a year

• Average snow is about 72.1 inches a year

• Dominant Wildlife:o Bison

o Bear

o Wolves

o Elk

Endemic/threatened/Endangered Species

• Endemic specieso Sand Verbena- plant found on surface of water

o American Dipper- an aquatic songbird

o Sagebrush lizard- only lizard found in yellowstone

• Threatened Specieso Canada Lynx

o Grizzly Bear

• Endangeredo Gray Wolf

o Wolverine

o Bald Eagle

Effects on Human History● First used by native Americans as far as 11,000 years ago

● Region hosted fish and materials for shelter

● In 19th century, members of the Lewis and Clark expeditions investigated the region

● Geothermal activity startled early explorers

● People steered clear of the area due to geothermal activity

What Agency protects YellowStone

• The National Park Service protects YellowStone

Threats to Yellowstone

• Eruption of the Caldera which is a super volcanoo thought as a possible destruction of U.S.

• Whirling disease(viral)o been tested positive for a little less than a quarter

attacks the cartilage so fish can’t eat normally

• Hikers who carry diseases or foreign pesticides

• Beatles and other exotic fungi o destroys white pine trees

harms grizzly bears

Bibliography"Human Impact and the Future - Yellowstone National Park." Yellowstone National Park. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Feb. 2014. Online Publications Related to Yellowstone History. "History & Culture." National Parks Service. National Parks Service, 03 Feb. 2014. Web. 19 Feb. 2014. "Yellowstone." - National Wildlife Federation. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Feb. 2014. "Yellowstone National Park History." Yellowstone National Park History. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Feb. 2014. "Yellowstone National Park Wildlife / Animals, Pictures, Viewing & Information." AllTrips. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Feb. 2014.